Certainly this time of year we start to see temperatures drop and the conditions moderate. This is usually one of Denver’s most pleasant times of years when the heat of summer fades and the snow and cold of winter is still far away. That however wasn’t the case when the most notable event in Denver weather history this week occurred. It was in 1961 on the 3rd of September that Denver received its earliest measurable snowfall – 4.2 inches!
19-30
In 1875…grasshoppers appeared in great numbers at 10:00 am on the 19th. Thousands landed on the ground. The streets were literally covered with them. Swarms of grasshoppers were seen on each day. All gardens in the city were devastated…and in the countryside the grasshoppers were very destructive to ripened grain. On the 30th the grasshoppers were so numerous as to almost darken the sun.
29
In 1876…after the passage of a gentle rain shower to the east during the late evening hours…the moon shone brightly and a remarkably bright lunar rainbow appeared.
In 1910…an apparent cold front produced sustained northeast winds to 40 mph.
In 1946…the high temperature warmed to only 55 degrees…the record low maximum for the month.
In 1989…a spectacular lightning display knocked out power to 300 blocks in southeast Denver. One bolt started a fire in a lumber yard in the northeast part of the city…and the attic of a home in the same area was set ablaze by a lightning bolt.
In 1996…3/4 inch diameter hail was measured in Parker.
In 2000…lightning struck two homes in Thornton. The extent of damage was unknown.
In 2002…two small tornadoes caused damage in southeast metro Denver. The first tornado…associated with a multi-vortex storm…touched down briefly near E-470 and South Jordan Road. Some fences were damaged…and a few trees were blown down. A few of the homes also sustained minor roof damage. Damage from this storm totaled 100 thousand dollars. The second tornado associated with the storm touched down in a subdivision that was under construction at Gartrell and Arapahoe roads. Four large condominiums under construction were destroyed. The most heavily damaged portions of the structures were still in the framing stages. Adjacent sections where enclosed walls were in place were not destroyed. A man suffered 4 broken ribs and several cuts and bruises when the trailer he sought shelter in was flipped three times and torn apart by the twister. Damage from this storm totaled 6 million dollars. A severe thunderstorm produced 1 inch diameter hail near Evergreen.
In 2006…severe thunderstorms produced large hail in the foothills west of Denver. Hail to 1 inch in diameter fell near Blackhawk. Hail as large as 7/8 inch was measured near Idaho Springs…along with 3/4 inch hail near Nederland and Conifer.
Continue reading August 29 to September 4 – This week in Denver weather history